If it looks like a bee and acts like a bee, is it a bee? Look closer, because that bee or wasp-like insect you see on the flower just might be a hoverfly, a fly in disguise.

Hoverflies, also called flower flies, belong to a large insect family, Syrphidae, with over 200 species in California. Many species mimic the look of a bee or wasp to defend against predators that don’t want to eat creatures with stingers. But unlike bees and wasps, the hoverfly has no stinger and is harmless to predators and humans. Same as all true flies, it has two wings (one set) compared to bees and wasps that have four (two sets of wings). Also, notice the hoverfly’s big eyes are about the width of its abdomen, much bigger than a bee’s eyes relative to its bee body.

Hoverflies are often seen hovering around flowers, hence their name. Many species feed mainly on nectar and pollen. They are important pollinators that provide this essential service while nectaring (sipping nectar).

Hoverflies can be beneficial in another way, as pest control. The larvae (maggots) of some species eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects that gardeners and farmers

consider pests. This is true for the oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua) pictured on this page. The female streaktail lays her eggs on plant parts near aphids. When eggs hatch, the fly larvae’s food is within easy reach.

Download this article